Rather horrifying news reaches me from old FCO buddies. Instructions are starting to go out for the first time to British embassies in EU states, telling them to begin discreet lobbying for Tony Blair to be appointed as the first permanent President of the European Union. The post is created by the Lisbon Treaty on which the Irish are being forced to vote repeatedly until they get the answer right.

Horrifyingly, it appears that Blair may well be able to get a majority of EU member governments prepared to support him. That is despite his record as Bush’s poodle in launching illegal war, as one of the chief architects of the banking bubble economic disaster, and as the Middle East Peace Envoy who held the ring for Israel’s murderous assaults on Lebanon and Gaza.

My whole political life I have supported the EU. I was born close enough to the Second World War to understand its most fundamental negotiation, and I have seen the economic and cultural benefits it has brought. But at the same time I have been horrified by its bureaucracy, corruption and the gaping democratic deficit in its structures.

For anyone to occupy the position of President without a popular election would be very, very wrong. But Tony Blair? It is simply an appalling thought.

There are two factors which EU states should take into consideration.

The Irish Factor. The Irish are even less likely to vote for the Lisbon Treaty if they realise that it means they get Tony Blair as President.

British membership. To appoint Tony Blair as EU President will be a massive boost to anti-EU feeling in the UK. I personally pledge to campaign actively to leave the EU if this arch war criminal becomes President – and I will not be alone.

The Conservative, Lib Dem, SNP and Plaid Cymru parties should make plain that the Blair candidacy does not have all-party support in the UK. New Labour are arguing that Blair will command support in the White House. If that’s the criteria, let’s have an Irishman.

The President will be responsible for the foreign policy and security dimensions. I have to read Lisbon again, but I think there will still be a separate President of the Commission who will be responsible for internal market, agriculture and other competence stuff.

It is permanent in that it replaces the current six month revolving Presidency. Again, I would have to look up the Treaty but I think it is a five year renewable appointment.

This is precisely why Bliar agreed to massively increase the UK’s contribution to the EU Budget shortly before resigning the Premiership – ostensibly for nothing in return. The cynic in me says it is also the reason why he had a road to Damascas highly-publicised conversion to Catholicism.

Perhaps the EU Bureaucrats think by appointing a former British PM to the post of President we will at least cease to hate the EU, even if we don’t grow to love it. How wrong can they be. Nothing is more likely to drive the average Brit in the Eurosceptic camp than having the Great B’Liar appointed to the post (and his atrocious wife in tow).

Quite agree about the appalling thought of Blair grabbing yet another ‘important’ post, but don’t depend on the Irish to vote against the Lisbon Treaty again. I have just been speaking to some friends in Ireland and was told that the financial situation is so bad there that everyone will be too scared to vote No again. Pity – I was hoping they’d be the answer.

When did starting a war of aggression against a country that is no threat to you stop being the supreme international crime exactly? After all the Nazis were hung? Is there a hidden clause where it only applies to Germans?

His name and that of his FF were mentioned a couple of times for good measure and then some words from him. There is no end to his chutzpah. Today on the BBC website, there is a page given over to him where he writes about the Catholic church’s attitude to gays. We have had this publicity about his push for the presidency of the EU and then the Bakewell programme on Radio 3 Good Friday about his beliefs. What on earth is going on and who is setting this agenda in the BBC?

The campaign to have Blair as EU Pres has been ongoing for quite some time. However, I seriously doubt if it will come to pass.

This is because the choice of president has to be unanimous. All 27 member states have to agree. And then it has to be agreed upon by the European Parliament, who can reject the proposal even if the 27 agreed.

The Irish vote on the Lisbon Treaty in the autumn has nothing to do with the possibility of Blair becoming president. What the Irish vote would do is to stop the ridiculous 6 month rotation of the EU President, and instead they would have a mandate of 2.5 years.

As for the UK leaving the EU. Until the Lisbon Treaty is ratified by all member states and enters into force, there is no provision in any other treaty for a country to leave the EU.

So… which do you want. A Yes or a No from Ireland.

For what it’s worth: I’m Irish, and will be voting Yes (again) when the time comes.

The campaign to have Blair as EU Pres has been ongoing for quite some time. However, I seriously doubt if it will come to pass.

This is because the choice of president has to be unanimous. All 27 member states have to agree. And then it has to be agreed upon by the European Parliament, who can reject the proposal even if the 27 agreed.

The Irish vote on the Lisbon Treaty in the autumn has nothing to do with the possibility of Blair becoming president. What the Irish vote would do is to stop the ridiculous 6 month rotation of the EU President, and instead they would have a mandate of 2.5 years.

As for the UK leaving the EU. Until the Lisbon Treaty is ratified by all member states and enters into force, there is no provision in any other treaty for a country to leave the EU.

So… which do you want. A Yes or a No from Ireland.

For what it’s worth: I’m Irish, and will be voting Yes (again) when the time comes.

“Tony Blair would probably welcome any delay in publishing the report. The former prime minister is making active plans to assume the new role of president of the European Council if Irish voters pass the Lisbon treaty in a referendum this autumn.”…

You said that the Conservative would not favour Blair as President. Whatever public mutterings there might be prior to the Euro elections I can assure you that the powers that be would be quite happy. Blair is “Thatcher’s heir”. Cameron has said that he considers himself Blair’s successor.

The EU is unlikely to worry too much about the views of what they are likely to consider one country’s “minority” parties: Lib Dem, SNP and Plaid Cymru.